hey if i go with an open element on my LO3 TBI, wont that cause alot of extra hot air going into the engine, will i need to get a hood with a cowl on it to let that hot air out. HOw have you other guys done it and how has it worked out for you?

 

does anybody know if i go with the open element, will i have do get a hood with a cowl to release some of that additional hot air under the hood?

 

I don't know how much help I can be but I just put on a 84 turbo mustang scoop on my car. It faces forward so cool air blows into the engine bay. I'll take pictures tomorrow to show you what I'm talking about.

 

I'm running an open element on an L03 w/ the stock power bulge hood (the one w/ the louvers) and it's running very well. It may run better w/ cooler air, but it seems to run much better over the stock single snorkel setup even though it was pulling outside air through the stock duct work.

Maybe someone w/ WinADL or something similar can tell us w/ the difference at the IAT is between an open element and a setup that draws in outside air.

 

here's the scoop I was telling you about.










I know it lets in alot of cold air but I plan on getting some walmart sponge weatherstripping to go slightly in front of the air cleaner to stop the little bit of dust from really getting in.

 

I had an open element on my L03 with the stock RS hood, and when i put my cowl on i wouldnt say i noticed any marginal gains in power, my temp maybe ran a few degrees lower than without the cowl hood. My cowl however is a fully functional cowl, and untill i get a taller intake manifold my air filter wont sit all the way up in the cowl. Still though, id say the cowl hood is more of an appearance mod than a performance mod.

 

I have a cowl on mine, I am not sure how much better it is, but if your cowl is functional, you can actually tell when it rains. Were the rain hits the window above the cowl, it goes up and over the car, where the rain hits in front of the cowl it will suck down the window toward the cowl, its prety neat. So, they are functional, but so sure if it does much more for power gains. Like Saber said, its more of a apperance mod, as well as a clearance mod. Sometimes you need that clearance for the element to fit. Depends on the style of the base plate and the height of the actual filter.

 

as far as mine goes i think i have noticed an increase in power by A LITTLE and better fuel econ

 

i feel a power difference, i only runa flow thru top on a modified stock air cleaner.

 

Are there any issues with water getting sucked into the engine?

 

I have none, Even if water gets in it would have to be a torrential downpour to make it anywhere close to the intake.

 

A cold air intake is a sure route to additional horsepower. If you remove your OEM intake system and replace it with an open element filter housing, two things happen. First, you've probably increased the CFM capacity of the filter system ( provided you're using a quality element like a K&N ). However you would be sucking in under hood hot air and that will hurt power. If you can combine the open element with a cowl induction hood you will be ahead of the game when it comes to supplying the TB with lots of fresh cool air. That means sealing the under hood temperatures from the intake charge by gasketing the open element inside the cowl hood. Check out the cowl hoods from the 70's for a look at a functional setup.
Venting the under hood hot air is another matter. If you can seal off the open element it's not so important to vent the under hood hot air.

 

 

I installed one with my stock hood and it was fine, A few people in my local club have as well with no issues. I have a cowl hood now, but I think you are fine with a stock hood

 

FYI: a cowl hood does not let air "out", it actually sucks air into it and gives fresh air for your element to take in. it probably lets some escape but mainly between the design it intakes more.if your worried about heat getting in you might think about getting aftermarket headers and getting them Coated. it greatly reduces temperature between that a cowl hood and my open element i noticed a cooler temperature in the bay itself and my car never has problems overheating and im running a 383 which is known for running at higher rpms quicker by design.im also running a air gap intake which reduced the temp a bit more obviously creating a colder intake denser charge and more power and response. hope that helped.

John~

 

Good info, thanks.

Off topic; are you running a TBI on that Air Gap?